The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about a third of corn and soybeans are in good or excellent condition in Iowa down from more than half rated in those categories a month ago. In Nebraska, where drought increased in some areas, non-irrigated corn is in similar shape.

It's a big deal here in central Iowa when we get even a little rain. Here's why. The latest drought monitor report released today shows Iowa's drought continues to spread. the light brown areas showing an area of severe drought that runs from west to eastern Iowa. Most other areas rated as moderate drought - or abnormally dry. Only two counties in far eastern Iowa are shown to have adequate rainfall. So what effect will that have on crops? The USDA's latest crop estimate expects corn yields are expected to be above last year's harvest. While soybean yields are expected to be even lower than during last year's drought. Local agronomists we talked to today say the USDA's corn crop projections are very optimistic. But some farmers who were considered crazy early on.. Could come out smelling like a rose. Amanda Lewis has our top story. "Kevin and Stacey, some of the worst corn in Iowa looks like this.. Small and coming from fields that are nearly dead. But closer to Des Moines things look a little better." It's Mark Johnson's job to keep his eyes on the ears. 13:00 You can see this is still succulent and green. It's still doing a lot of photosynthesis work for us, it's still creating the sugars that are being pumped into this ear. The ISU Agronomist says this field near Elkhart was planted in April. Early. He says some people thought the farmer was crazy. 1:48 Well then we went through basically 8 weeks of rain. As the rain began, so did a summer of struggle. Temperatures that ranged from growth slowing cool.. To yield killing hot. Drought hardened soil in places and sent water tables plumeting. 2:19 There's lots of fields that have these big dead spots that will be green and all of a sudden it's brown. The corn has actually died already. Some of the worst hit fields are in north central Iowa. They look like this. Areas where they've had about an inch of rain this summer.. Instead of their normal 8+ inches. 6:28 There are going to be fields up there that struggle to make 70 bushels and acre. In Polk and Story counties the drought hasn't gone on as long. 7:34 These roots got down through that top couple feet of soil before it baked hard. Johnson says most of the drought won't translate to increased prices at the grocery store. Fields in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana doing well.. So corn prices will remain low. But that means Iowa farmers with low yields will suffer. Amanda Lewis, KCCI 8 News. Johnson says soybeans will also suffer this year.. Though not as badly as corn. He says the beans were planted late and yields could be down by about 20-percent.

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